A1 · 49 words
Greetings and introductions in German
The words of the first thirty seconds — and the choice between du and Sie, which is made before you say anything else.
Practise this list
From these 49 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
These are the words you need before you need any others, and one of them is a decision rather than a word. German has two ways of saying "you", and which one you pick is the first thing a German speaker hears about you — du to friends, family, children and, increasingly, colleagues of your own age; Sie to everybody else until they offer otherwise. Getting it wrong is not a grammar mistake, it is a social one, so the safe default with a stranger is Sie and the safe move is to wait for the offer.
The words
Verb (5)
sprechento speakVerbA1
Strong verb: du sprichst, er spricht — the vowel changes.
verstehento understandVerbA1
Inseparable prefix, so the participle is "verstanden" without ge-.
kommento comeVerbA1
Strong verb: kommen – kam – gekommen, and it takes "sein" in the perfect.
wohnento live, to resideVerbA1
Weak and regular. "leben" is to be alive; "wohnen" is to have your address somewhere.
sich verabschiedento say goodbyeVerbA2
Noun (13)
Grammar for these: The three genders · The plural
entschuldigungexcuse me, sorryNounA1
die Entschuldigung. Used both to apologise and to get somebody's attention.
der HerrMr, gentlemanNounA1
Plural: die Herren. A weak noun — it takes -n in every case except the nominative singular.
die FrauMrs, Ms, womanNounA1
Plural: die Frauen. Used for every adult woman regardless of marital status; "Fräulein" is long obsolete.
die FragequestionNounA1
Plural: die Fragen.
die AntwortanswerNounA1
Plural: die Antworten. The verb is "antworten" and takes a dative: jemandem antworten.
das LandcountryNounA1
Plural: die Länder. Also means the countryside, and a federal state of Germany.
die SprachelanguageNounA1
Plural: die Sprachen.
der GrußgreetingNounA1
Plural: die Grüße.
der Vornamefirst nameNounA1
Plural: die Vornamen.
GermanEnglish (the language)NounA1
Neuter and usually without an article: Ich lerne German. The adjective is German, with a small e.
EuropaEuropeNounA1
Neuter, used without an article: in Europa, aus Europa.
ItalienItalyNounA1
Neuter, used without an article: nach Italien, aus Italien.
die SchweizSwitzerlandNounA1
One of the few countries with an article: in der Schweiz, in die Schweiz, aus der Schweiz.
Adjective (3)
Grammar for these: Adjectives after sein · Comparative and superlative
willkommenwelcomeAdjectiveA1
langsamslow, slowlyAdjectiveA1
geehrtdear (in a formal letter); honouredAdjectiveA2
In letters always after sehr: Sehr geehrte Frau …, Sehr geehrter Herr …, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren.
Adverb (8)
bitteplease; you are welcomeAdverbA1
Does three jobs: "please", "you are welcome" after a thank-you, and "pardon?" when said with a rising tone.
jayesAdverbA1
neinnoAdverbA1
dochyes (contradicting a negative)AdverbA1
German has a third answer word English lacks: "doch" contradicts a negative question or statement. "Nein" would agree with it.
woherwhere fromAdverbA1
gerngladly, with pleasureAdverbA1
German says "I do something gladly" where English says "I like doing it". Comparative: lieber, am liebsten.
leiderunfortunatelyAdverbA1
natürlichof course, naturallyAdverbA1
Pronoun (3)
Grammar for these: Personal pronouns · Reflexive pronouns
duyou (informal, one person)PronounA1
Sieyou (formal)PronounA1
Always capitalised, and takes the same verb form as the plural "sie". The capital letter is the only thing telling them apart in writing.
ihryou (informal, several people)PronounA1
Exclamation (4)
hallohelloExclamationA1
tschüssbyeExclamationA1
dankethank youExclamationA1
okayokay, all rightExclamationA1
Phrase (13)
guten Morgengood morningPhraseA1
guten Taggood day, helloPhraseA1
The standard polite greeting from late morning until evening. In Austria and Bavaria you will hear "Grüß Gott" instead.
guten Abendgood eveningPhraseA1
gute Nachtgood nightPhraseA1
Only for parting at bedtime, never as a greeting.
auf WiedersehengoodbyePhraseA1
The formal goodbye. On the telephone it is "auf Wiederhören" — you are not seeing each other again, you are hearing.
bis baldsee you soonPhraseA1
vielen Dankmany thanksPhraseA1
es tut mir leidI am sorryPhraseA1
wie geht es dirhow are youPhraseA1
Formal: "wie geht es Ihnen". In speech usually shortened to "wie geht's".
mein Name istmy name isPhraseA1
ich heißemy name is, I am calledPhraseA1
The everyday form. "heißen" means to be called, and takes a nominative after it.
freut michpleased to meet youPhraseA1
noch einmalagain, once morePhraseA1
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 16 lists and 702 words that can also be practised as a whole.